50 Best Romantic Getaways 2010

London’s Firmdale Group brings the spirit of Soho to a cobblestoned lane in the other SoHo. The new 86-room Crosby Street Hotel feels very much a part of its vibrant, intimately scaled neighborhood: the restaurant-bar has become a local favorite, and the salon-like lobby is filled from morning to midnight. Kit Kemp’s bold interiors manage to challenge and soothe the eye all at once: austere charcoal-gray wall coverings set off pastel headboards; soft silk curtains frame steel warehouse windows; gritty brick façades background a lush rooftop garden. Doubles from $495. —Peter Jon Lindberg

Even after serving as the backdrop for countless fashion-magazine photo shoots, the Moorings Village & Spa—18 brightly accented cottages connected to the beach by wooden walkways on a former coconut plantation in the Florida Keys—still seems like your own secret discovery. Lush, almost jungle-like landscaping gives way to a private white-sand beach with swaying hammocks and a thatched-roof dock. Book a snorkeling trip à deux with Bay and Reef Co. (tours from $250) to view a multicolored swirl of marine life and the 136-year-old lighthouse; then return to your porch to feast on succulent stone crab. Cottages from $275. —Irene Edwards

Amateur cooks now have access to the culinary secrets of Paris’s top chefs at the nine-month-old École de Cuisine Alain Ducasse. On a quiet residential block in the 16th Arrondissement, Romain Corbière, former head chef at Ducasse’s Le Relais du Parc, leads small classes with the help of such topflight toques as Christophe Moret, from Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée. A day might start with a trip to a farmers’ market to pick up ingredients for a soupe au pistou, followed by a hands-on demonstration of dishes like blanquette de veau. Classes from $248 per day. —Claire Downey

High above the small town of Avon, Beaver Creek sits, like Oz, at the end of a serpentine road. Known for its downhill slopes, the town also has snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and plenty of après-ski appeal. Reward yourself with a five-course dinner at the elegant Beano’s Cabin, a mid-mountain log cabin accessible only by sleigh ride. Or sample Wolfgang Puck's cuisine at Spago in the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch. In the summer, enjoy a hot air balloon ride over the Rockies, or go hiking in them. The Vail Valley is also home to over nine courses, including Red Sky Ranch and the Beaver Creek Golf Course. 970-754-3463; Dinner for two $210; reservations essential. —Meg Lukens Noonan

There’s something particularly romantic about South Carolina’s low country: roads lined with moss-draped trees lead to tiny coastal towns, where there are plenty of places to try the region’s famed oysters. From Charleston, head north for 40 miles on Highway 17 to the fishing village of McClellanville, stopping at T.W. Graham & Co. Seafood Restaurant (lunch for two $35) for a lunch of fried oysters. And in Georgetown, the Rice Paddy Restaurant (dinner for two $92) is known for its oyster pies. Twenty miles north is Murrells Inlet, where bivalves come steamed or on the half shell at the Inlet Crab House Restaurant & Raw Bar (dinner for two $61). —Sandy Lang

Thanks to its latitude, Hawaii is a celestial mecca (it’s one of the only states with views of both the North Star and the Southern Cross). At the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, director of astronomy Eddie Mahoney ushers couples to the rooftop, where a 16-inch reflector telescope is set up next to strawberries and Château Michelle champagne. Ask Mahoney to point out your astrological constellations, then head downstairs to Kaanapali Beach to watch bioluminescent creatures light up the waves. Doubles from $311; Romance Tour of the Stars package $70 for two. —Kathryn O’Shea-Evans

The pleasures are simple on the tiny islet of Furillen, off Sweden’s Gotland Island: clear blue skies, deserted beaches, and fresh seafood. Here you’ll find Fabriken Furillen, a former limestone quarry transformed into Sweden’s farthest-flung design hotel. Locally sourced sheepskin rugs and handcrafted Midcentury furniture give the seemingly spare six cabins an alluring warmth, while Bang & Olufsen stereos and flat-screen TV’s lend the 15 rooms in the main house a modern edge. Doubles from $289. —Catesby Holmes

The pedestrian Hauptstrasse in Heidelberg, Germany, is lined with classic cafés—Schafheutle, Rossi, and Knoesel—that overlook the Neckar River, serve up first-rate Milchkaffee and luscious chocolate tortes, and offer the best vantage point for people-watching. Stay at the Heidelberg Suites, a converted 19th-century villa across the Karl Theodor bridge, where 26 rooms are done up with heroic busts, deer antlers, and etched mirrors; most have views of the city’s medieval castle. Doubles from $422. —Shane Mitchell

Lavender, geranium, and mint are some of the scents that may inspire you during GoLearnTo.com’s weekend perfumery course in France’s verdant Languedoc region. In a sprawling 18th-century farmhouse near Montpellier, study base and top notes and concoct your own signature scent. In the evening, meals—spit-roasted pork paired with wine from nearby vineyards—are served before guests retreat to the antiques-filled rooms. You get to take your bespoke creation home in a carry-on container that meets airlines’ requisite three-ounce limit. Four-day courses from $633, including lodging and meals. —Rachel Felder

The olive-oil maker Armando Manni’s one-bedroom Casa Manni Roma is an Adam Tihany–designed space overlooking the Piazza Colonna. The real draw here is access to Manni’s black book: request a private agnolotti-making class with Oretta Zanini de Vita, Italy’s mistress of handmade pasta, or a decadent four-handed Thai couples massage at Acanto, a spa favored by well-heeled locals. Manni can also arrange a Roman Holiday–esque tour by vintage Piaggio. Daily rentals from $800, two-night minimum. —Maria Shollenbarger

Beyond the crowded Rialto, this city is more than gondolas and Gorgonzola. In the serene Accademia neighborhood, just beyond the Campo San Stefano, the 22-room Palazzina Grassi has a superb collection of Modernist glass from Murano masters in a sparkling space designed by Philippe Starck. The bar is molto romantico for Prosecco cocktails and the canal-side restaurant turns out a perfect raviolo. Doubles from $483. —Shane Mitchell

For a truly otherworldly trip down the slopes, nothing beats full-moon skiing at Diavolezza, the most spectacular of St. Moritz’s five ski areas. Once a month, a tram drops night-owl skiers off at the craggy peak’s nearly 10,000-foot summit, which affords jaw-dropping views of the glacial Bernina Range. The 3,000-foot vertical trail is blanketed in soft blue light. After a few runs, take the lift back to the top for a traditional Swiss dinner of Bündnerfleisch, Rösti potatoes, and cheese fondue at the Berghaus Diavolezza restaurant. Lift tickets from $30. —James Jung

On an 18-acre plot here, hotelier Liz Lambert has created the ultimate retreat for couples looking to get away from it all—El Cosmico, a collection of five expertly restored vintage travel trailers (including two Spartans and a Vagabond). Each has a mini-kitchen, glossy birch-veneer walls, and beds topped with Bolivian wool blankets. For a dose of culture, visit the neighboring Chinati Foundation (artist Donald Judd’s military fort turned 340-acre art museum). Doubles from $75. —Kathryn O’Shea-Evans

Decadence abounds inside London’s new Dorchester Spa, an ivory-and-coral-colored subterranean paradise with cream chiffon curtains and a chandelier made from 72,000 South Pacific pearls. Seasoned aesthetician Vaishaly has developed a menu of facials, administered in enormous, mood-lit double treatment suites. Afterward, wrap yourselves in oversize robes and slip past the large glass doors to the relaxation room, where you’ll find fresh lychee juice, copies of the latest glossies, and plenty of Louis Roederer champagne. Treatments from $90. —Maria Shollenbarger

Set high on a mile-long headland with sweeping views of the Channel, the 1863 Start Point Lighthouse is flanked by keepers’ quarters, which were recently transformed into two charming cottages. Inside you’ll find pillowy beds, modern kitchens, fireplaces, and a basket filled with English Breakfast tea and freshly baked bread. Don’t miss the spectacular walk along a stretch of the adjacent South West Coast Path trail. Doubles from $310, two-night minimum. —Amy Traverso

The recently redone Jumby Bay, A Rosewood Resort, situated on a private 300-acre island 10 minutes by boat from Antigua, is still the standard-bearer of Caribbean luxury. Following a $28 million reconstruction, 28 new suites have ocean views and outdoor bathtubs in lush private courtyards. But the most exciting addition is the property’s first-ever spa, Sense, an open-air facility with a garden just 50 feet from the beach; book the Sense Hammock Massage treatment for two. Doubles from $1,350, all-inclusive. —Tom Austin

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has perfected the island escape with a new eastern Caribbean itinerary on the Seven Seas Navigator. The cruise begins in Fort Lauderdale and continues on to classic ports of call on St. Bart’s, St. Maarten, and Virgin Gorda. On a special stop in Princess Cays, a private island in the Bahamas, you’ll be treated to beach barbecues and Jet Skiing; in the Dominican Republic, guided excursions lead you through mangrove swamps in Los Haitises National Park. But why leave the ship at all? Thanks to a recent renovation, all 245 cabins now have ocean views, and many have private decks—an ideal vantage point when you’re arriving in Puerto Rico and San Juan’s imposing fortress emerges on the horizon. 10-night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from $5,065 per person round trip, including airfare from select cities. —Lisa Cheng

Inspired by an era of horse-drawn carriages and cricket matches, Tucker’s Point Hotel & Spa is the first luxury resort to open on Bermuda in almost four decades. Situated on 200 acres overlooking Castle Harbour, the hotel’s 88 guest rooms come with everything you could hope for in an old-world Caribbean retreat: mahogany beds, deep soaking tubs, and balconies. The white-tablecloth Point Restaurant & Terrace showcases local ingredients—caramelized sea scallops; pecan-and-herb-crusted sea bass—and is adorned with large murals depicting 19th-century clipper ships. Doubles from $340. —Tom Austin

The rooftop of the six-story Algodon Mansion, overlooking the posh Recoleta neighborhood’s French-colonial buildings, is the perfect spot for a sunset tango (arrange a lesson through the hotel). This Belle Époque gem has just 10 suites, each with cavernous limestone-and-marble bathrooms and ebony floors; most have views of the hotel’s central atrium and its two-story waterfall. The spa offers organic, wine-inspired treatments, a rewarding end to a day spent exploring the colorful cityscape. Doubles from $400. —Jaime Gross

Adventurous couples can live out their Tarzan-and-Jane fantasies at Tree House Lodge, a secluded spot in the rain forest on Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean shore. The four individual bungalows, with wide-open canopy views, are made from fallen tropical hardwoods. The most dramatic of these—the eponymous Tree House—is a bi-level cottage built around the trunk of a rare sangrillo tree. Inside, a whimsical bamboo-walled shower and an elevated master bedroom (reached via palm-thatched suspension bridge) are perfect for watching howler monkeys rustle in the treetops. Doubles from $200. —Carolina Miranda

At One&Only Palmilla, on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, splurge on dinner in a hidden Sonoran canyon. You’ll be chauffeured in the resort’s own Hummer to this high-desert feast, where a table for two is illuminated by a bonfire and flickering candles. Share chilled champagne and dine on grilled meats and fresh salads, then take turns at the telescope set up to spot celestial bodies above the Pacific. Doubles from $675; dinner for two $1,210. —Shane Mitchell

Between the central Cotopaxi and Tungurahua volcanoes 124 miles south of Quito lies Nevado Roses—the antithesis of your grandmother’s flower garden. More than 3 million rosebushes bloom in tidy rows, wafting their heady fragrance into the air. Roberto Nevado, who has co-owned this 90-acre plot since 1996 with his son John, will walk you through the harvest, pointing out varieties that grow improbably tall at this altitude (9,000 feet). Handpick your favorites—a fiery Lina or an organic Flaming Pale Pink—and the bouquet will be waiting for you when you return home. Tours from $25. —Kathryn O’Shea-Evans

In winter, this snug town appeals for its art galleries, tequila cantinas, challenging black diamond trails at Kachina Peak, and sunny climate. At the base of Lift 4, halfway up the mountain, schuss into the Bavarian Lodge & Restaurant to warm up by a traditional Kachelofen tile stove. The four Alpine-chic chalets—designed by Alexandra Champalimaud—are done up with organic linens, stainless-steel fireplaces, and reproductions of 1950’s ski posters on the walls. Chalets from $750. —Shane Mitchell

The just-renovated Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay sits on a crescent of soft sand that’s alluring enough by day—and now even lovelier after dark, thanks to the resort’s new Beds on the Beach nights. Every Tuesday and Saturday evening, dozens of votives are set alight in the sand, surrounding 20 canopied lounge beds swathed in colorful silk. Barefoot waitstaff bring cocktails and Asian-inspired tapas, while jazz music plays and the sunset blazes across the Indian Ocean. Fortunately, lingering is strongly encouraged. Doubles from $680; dinner for two $250. —Peter Jon Lindberg

On the wild plains of Rajasthan—just an hour south of Jodhpur—the Mihir Garh is a palatial fortress hotel with an impressive stable of indigenous Marwari steeds. Take one on a maharajah-worthy journey through the desert or on a staff-guided picnic safari to a Bishnoi tribal village. Then come home to one of the nine enormous guest suites (each is over 1,700 square feet), which are done up in Rajasthani textiles and rich fabrics that will put the final touches on your storybook adventure. Doubles from $313, including meals. —Shane Mitchell

The Arashiyama neighborhood of Kyoto, full of bamboo groves and Zen temples, is the site of the city’s newest—and most exquisite—ryokan, or traditional inn. Hoshinoya Kyoto has 25 guest rooms along the banks of the Hozu River, each with Japanese futons, yellow cedar bathtubs, and delicate rice-paper screens. In the morning, you can have a Japanese breakfast delivered to your room—nabe hot pot served with tofu and local vegetables—and sit by the window, against a backdrop of maple and cherry trees. Doubles from $671. —Jaime Gross

This region’s highlight is the winery-filled Tamar Valley. At the Ninth Island Vineyard, reserve a table at Daniel Alps at Strathlynn (lunch for two $132), for fresh regional dishes such as Spring Bay scallops in a leek-and-thyme butter sauce. The restored Quamby Estate—a 17 1/2-mile drive from the city of Launceston—was once the centerpiece of an 1820’s ranch. Now set within serene English gardens, the sprawling, contemporary-style homestead has been renovated into 10 spacious suites with colonial antiques and views of the surrounding farmland. Doubles from $345. —Anthony Dennis

In the South Pacific, 400 miles southwest of Tahiti, you’ll find the lesser-known Cook Islands, an ideal playground for snorkeling, kayaking, and motu walking (the local pastime of wading in the shallow waters between islets). Rising from one of these white-sand motu is Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa—which has the island chain’s only overwater bungalows as well as the new Villa Te Arau, a mod-Maori haven with black-pearl-shell inlays, woven-pandanus walls, and a private pool. This is the place to spend days learning to pluck a ukulele or dozing in the double-wide hammock. Doubles from $287, villa from $1,000. —Christine Ciarmello

Few views are as stage-set for romance as the one over Stellenbosch Valley and the Western Cape Winelands, with acres of vineyards, white Cape Dutch houses, and dramatic mountains. Now there’s a prime spot from which to take it all in: the newly renovated Delaire Graff Estate. The property’s contemporary-art collection is a carefully edited selection of some of South Africa’s finest working artists. Take an extravagant wine tutorial in the state-of-the-art tasting lounge, with flights of Delaire reds and whites and organic food pairings. Lunch for two $80. —Maria Shollenbarger

This island is famous for its aromatic spices, Swahili culture, and most of all, its isolated beaches. At Kilindi, on a sun-bleached crescent opposite Tumbatu Island, 15 domed limestone pavilions are tucked along a tidal bay where wooden dhows still ply the aquamarine waters. Here, luxury comes with a light footprint—rainwater collected on the roofs of the cottages is used to water the lush gardens. The white-on-white rooms are within earshot of the surf. Doubles from $1,300, including all meals. —Shane Mitchell

Following in the footsteps of explorers Captain James Cook and Ernest Shackleton, Silversea Cruises’ 17-day Explorer’s Antarctica has all the adventure of an expedition with a minimal amount of roughing it. The 132-passenger Prince Albert II embarks from Ushuaia, Argentina, and heads toward the Falkland Islands. You’ll get 360-degree views of hulking glaciers, blue icebergs, and snowcapped peaks from the two top-deck, glass-enclosed whirlpools. For up-close encounters with wildlife (southern fur seals; albatross; chinstrap penguins), book a naturalist-guided tour on one of eight Zodiacs. This takes the phrase “getting away from it all” to a new level. 17-day itinerary from $7,926 per person. —Lisa Cheng

Affordable inns and restaurants, plus world-class diving, snorkeling, and windsurfing are making this 112-square-mile island one of the Caribbean’s best spots. La Pura Vista is like staying at your fabulous wealthy uncle’s villa—except he’s out of town. Four of the five breezy rooms face the brick-lined pool; breakfast is from 8 to 10 a.m., and the front desk is staffed until noon; after that, it’s all yours. At Cactus Blue (dinner for two $60), British expat Hagen Wegerer, a dive instructor turned chef, makes a stellar lime-and-ginger Caribbean shrimp. He’ll tell you where the best snorkeling spots on the island are (take his advice and go to 1,000 Steps). Doubles from $195.

One of the largest islands in the French West Indies, Martinique attracts Francophiles looking for an affordable alternative to St. Bart’s. At the 50-suite Cap Est Lagoon Resort & Spa, on Martinique’s verdant eastern coast, a Guerlain spa and Creole fusion cuisine add Gallic spice to a modern plantation-style hotel decorated with vibrant madras fabrics. Take your cue from the French clientele and touch up your tan Euro-style (read: topless). After sunset, dance to steel drums in the lounge. Stop by the hotel’s restaurant, Le Belem, for grilled lobster. Doubles from $500.

This cluster of 99 islands off Malaysia’s northwestern coast is a relative neophyte when it comes to tourism. Most of the main island remains a nature-lover’s paradise, swathed in mangrove and tropical rain forests, and it was recently designated a UNESCO Geopark—the first in Southeast Asia. Much of Langkawi retains its traditional charm, on view in Pantai Cenang at the Bon Ton Resort, a small village of formerly dilapidated Malay wooden houses transformed into stylish lodgings by hotelier Narelle McMurtrie. Doubles from $150. (450 MYR = $135 1/2010)

For a more urban—but also exotic—experience, head south to the capital of Colombia, Bogotá, which some say is poised to become the next Buenos Aires. Bogotá’s historic center is La Candelaria, where the recently reopened Museo del Oro now houses a 6,500-piece collection of pre-Columbian gold coins and other works of art. And at the nearby Fernando Botero Museum, you’ll find more than a hundred sculptures and paintings by the artist. In the Zona Rosa district, the Sofitel Bogotá Victoria Regia is a 102-room property near the city’s art galleries. Doubles from $340.

This archipelago in northern Panama is where travelers can escape the crowds of the more popular Bocas del Toro. After a short flight from Panama City to Playón Chico (which the hotel will help arrange), guests of one of the five overwater casitas at Yandup Island Lodge are picked up by boat and taken to the property’s private island. Snorkelers can spot more than 75 species of coral, hundreds of varieties of tropical fish, and the occasional dolphin. Remember to bring your own sunscreen and toiletries: the area has no shops. Doubles from $190, all-inclusive.

This yachting-obsessed city has more than its share of sophisticated food and wine. At Merediths (dinner for two $110), chef-owner Michael Meredith turns out modern New Zealand dishes such as smoked salmon with candied fennel. Don’t miss a day trip to the island of Waiheke, an up-and-coming wine region. The downtown marina is the site of the new Westin Auckland Lighter Quay, an understated 172-room hotel. Be sure to book one of the Corner Harbor View rooms, which have floor-to-ceiling windows. Best of all, the exchange rate turns the city’s hotels, restaurants, and boutiques into affordable indulgences. Doubles from $216.

Just off the eastern shore of Lake Victoria, Rusinga Island is blissfully laid-back. Stay in one of the six thatched cottages (net-draped beds, ceiling fans, large baths) at Rusinga Island Lodge. Each bungalow faces an open-air restaurant where the spicy fish curry pairs well with a Tusker Ale. Micato Safari guide Mark Ross, who flies guests here in his Cessna airplane from Nairobi, will arrange an expedition to the mainland town of Sindo or a sunset cocktail cruise to watch thousands of white egrets nesting on uninhabited islands. Doubles from $440.

In the land of the midnight sun, one of the best things to do is hike, baby, hike. At Denali’s Sable Pass, you can meander through willow brush and cross Igloo Creek in plain view of glacier-sheathed Cathedral Mountain. Book a one-room log cabin on a hillside at Camp Denali, close enough to the main lodge for comfort and far enough for privacy. Cabins have gingham curtains, a big wooden bed, and gas-powered lamps. Ask for one with a view of Mt. McKinley. Doubles from $505. —Jeff Wise and Kathryn O’Shea-Evans

Many beaches in Southern Thailand are overrun with Western travelers, but the quiet stretches of powdery sands near Krabi are an exception. Its towering limestone cliffs, tropical foliage, and the crystal-blue waters of the Andaman Sea, make this low-key hideaway a romantic alternative to places like Phuket. Those seeking seclusion can find it at the brand-new Phulay Bay, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve. Guests can dine at the sea front pavilion with private rooftop dining, sip drinks at the infinity pool bar, or take a sea plane tour of the island-flecked coastline and the national forest surrounding the 54-villa resort. Doubles from $595.

Small inns dot the Lake District in England, which is famed for its rugged beauty. The area is a beguiling combination of windswept, heather-clad mountains and moors, clusters of silver-blue lakes, and mottled green forests. Check-in at Holbeck Ghyll, a cozy 19th-century hunting lodge overlooking Lake Windermere and the hills, full of traditional English touches: oak paneling, wing chairs, a croquet lawn, and two black Labradors. Once you’re settled in, stop by William Wordsworth’s former home, Dove Cottage, now a museum with original manuscripts by the poet as well as a vast collection of watercolor paintings from the 19th-century Romantic movement. Doubles from $300 including breakfast. —Alison Tyler

Flanking West Grand Traverse Bay, in the state’s Lower Peninsula, these 850 acres of vineyards are finally turning out wines, particularly Pinot Blancs, worthy of the stupendous views. Among the best: bracing renditions from Left Foot Charley and Brys Estate. Check in to the stately eight-room inn at the hillside Black Star Farms, a luxurious B&B complete with a farmers’ market, creamery, and stables. For dinner, try the roast quail stuffed with foie gras at Blu, overlooking Lake Michigan.

This idyllic enclave on the Gulf of Mexico, 60 miles from Fort Myers, is a genuine glimpse of Old Florida, with whimsically named streets such as Damnificare, a postcard-worthy lighthouse watching over Gasparilla Island State Park, and long, quiet beaches lapped by gentle waves. The Innlet, the 33-room sister property of the old-guard Gasparilla Inn, has a dockside restaurant and a relaxed, let’s-go-fishing vibe. A certifiably funky Florida joint, Temptation—think murals of leaping tarpon and a neon martini sign—serves local grouper, pompano, and soft-shell crabs. —Tom Austin

Wine-making talent and investment money have been streaming in from Europe and beyond, dramatically altering Argentina’s vinous landscape with hundreds of acres of new vineyards, several dozen new wineries, and entire categories of new wines. With that have come stylish hotels—like Estancia Colome, which sits on 96,000 acres and whose television-free rooms are surrounded by fields of lavender and 150-year-old vines—and ambitious restaurants, the trappings of a wine region that draws well-heeled travelers. For dinner, try Hacienda de Molinos, for gourmet salteña cuisine in a courtyard dominated by an aguaribay tree. —Bruce Schoenfeld and Ian Mount

Thomas Keller’s French Laundry put this pint-size California town on the culinary map—and now it’s got good company, like Bardessono: spread over six acres of vineyards, this modern inn has a rooftop lap pool, 62 earth-toned guest rooms with private patios, and plenty of eco cred: it’s built with reclaimed wood and clad in solar panels. Rustic southern Italian cuisine is the name of the game at Bottega, which serves up dishes such as roast pork and honey-sage–roasted apples and grilled quail and black-olive sausage. Doubles from $450. —Jaime Gross

Spend the day indulging in the wide range of food choices in Sultanahmet, Istanbul’s Old City. Start the day at Tamara Restaurant (breakfast for two $20), which serves up the region’s puffy breads, herb-flecked otlu cheese, and addictive tahini spread. Indulge on kebabs for lunch at Seyhmus ($30 for two), and savor platters of smoky eggplant salad, buttery lakerda (cured bonito), and grilled levrek (sea bass) for dinner at Balikçi Sabahattin ($65 for two). At the end of the night, kick up your feet at the Seven Hills Hotel, situated between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia. —Anya von Bremzen

With all the farmers’ market, cafes, and lazy outdoor lunches, the simple pleasures in the south of France are thriving, in many ways just as they have been for decades. Book a room at 28 à Aix, an intimate hotel in the city’s center. For lunch, visit one or more of the town’s many small shops for a selection of homemade treats. Later into the evening, Chez Thomé (dinner for two $65) serves beautiful green salads with red currants, a bit of foie gras, warm cheese with a red pepper–and-garlic rémoulade, rabbit with a dried-fruit reduction, and risotto aux fruits de mer. Doubles from $384. —Luke Barr

It’s almost impossible to deny the appeal of a classic New England inn—especially in winter—like the Inn at Round Barn Farm, a 19th-century farmhouse-and-horse barn–turned-hotel that sits on 245 bucolic acres in Vermont’s Mad River Valley. All 12 comfortable rooms have mountain and meadow views. For an extra special evening, book one of the inn’s special snowshoe dinners; trek to a cozy cabin in the woods for a gourmet meal by a fieldstone fireplace, and return to your room guided only by the moonlight. —Adrien Glover

Situated on pristine Faxaflói Bay, Reykjavík’s quaint beauty—not to mention the affordability awarded to tourists as a direct result of the 2008 collapse of Iceland’s financial system—make it a must-see destination. Stay at the Center Hotel Arnarhvoll, in downtown’s 101 district, where the modern rooms (slate palette accented with red and chestnut brown) come with views of Mount Esja. Enjoy a dinner of foal steak with couscous and cabbage at relative newcomer Segurmo at Boston (dinner for two $20). Doubles from $142, including breakfast.

Ninety-four percent of the Czech Republic’s burgeoning wine production (Grüner Veltliner and Cabernet Moravia) comes from this under-the-radar province’s rolling vineyards and castle-topped towns. Stay at the new nautical-themed Noem Arch Hotel, with 18 cabin-like rooms and a blue-walled restaurant that blends harmoniously with the glass aquariums. Head south to the village of Mikulov for an affordable tasting at Templ Wine Bar (drinks for two $4). Doubles from $141.